Laundry machine



April 18, 1933- N. STRAMAGLIA ET AL LAUNDRY MACH I NE Filed March 7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a Zz'a & 2% 0/22 as Eczl 223 01,

THEY ATTORNEVS.

April 18, 1933. N. STRAMAGLIA El AL 1,904,099

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed March 7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /09 5/08 j g 4 F 17 m 7/ 1 6 9 6/ .[Vz'coZcz Szrama Zia & Fornas Sc/M'Z QCZI/ZNVENTORS: 88

Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED ATENF @FFFQE LAUNDRY MACHINE Application filed March 7,

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in laundry machines, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly eflicient in use and economical in manufacture.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved combination washing and drying machine for commercial laundries.

It is another object of the invention to provide a combination Washer and drier in which a multi-compartment perforated drum is rotated in an outer shell, in horizontal position during the washing process, and after the washing operation is completed the shell and drum are turned into upright or vertical position, and are then lifted vertically by hydraulic pressure operated means so that both shell and drum are supported in vertical position on flexible cables, and the drum is then rotated in vertical position so as to carry out the drying operation by centrifugal force, after which'the shell and drum are turned back to horizontal position and the washing operation repeated. It is a further object of the invention to provide novel means for supporting the outer shell and rotating drum in vertical n position in such a manner that vibration will be minimized during. the drying operation. It is an additional object of the invention to provide a combination washer and drier in which both washing and drying operations may be carried out with a minimum of manual operations and expended labor. Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention; v

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 in Fig. 1;

1931. Serial No. 520,913.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 66 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view on line 77 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of certain operating parts of the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view of one of the flexible cables embodied in the invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein a practical embodiment of the invention is illus-" trated, an-outer cylinder or shell is indicated at 10 and includes end walls 11 and 12 which have annular flanges 13 and 14 that extend parallel to each other over the body of the shell 10 and these end walls 11 and 12 have the rods 71 extending therebetween. Slidably mounted on a flange 15 of the end wall 11 (Fig. 4) and on an internal band or rib 16 is a door 17 which provides access to the interior of the shell 10 and to the perforated drum 18 disposed therein, the drum 18 including end walls 19 and 20. A boss 21 is formed on each of the end walls-19 and 20 and extending through drum 18 and fixed to these bosses 21 is a shaft 22 around which is disposed a hub 23 which extends between the bosses 21. Ribs 24 extend between the end walls 19 and 20 of drum 18 and divide the drum into a plurality of compartments 25, each for the reception of a family wash B5 bundle, and access to these compartments 25 is provided by a slidable door 26 one side of which is extended under a flange 27 of end wall 19 and the other side of which is extended under. an external rib 28 on the drum.

On the end walls 11 and 12 of shell 10 are bearing structures 29 (detail Fig. 8) through which the shaft 22 is extended and externally of the end wall 11 of shell 10 shaft 22 carries a ring gear 30 and this gear 30 is associated with a speed reducing gear train comprised of gear 31 on shaft 32, and which gear meshes withv gear 30, gear 33 on shaft 34, and gear 35 on shaft 34 which meshes with gear 36 on the shaft, 37 of motor 38, the shafts 32 and 34 being journaled in suitable upright supports 39 and 40.

.On the flange 13 of end wall 11 of shell 10 are diametrically opposed stub shafts 41 and 42, each of which rests in a V-shaped slot 43 formed in the upper end of upright supporting posts 44 and 45 and at the opposite end of the shell 10 a stub shaft 46 is rovided on the flange 14 of end wall 12 and this stub shaft 46 rests in a notch, similar to notch 43, in the upper end of the upright supporting post 47. Opposite the shell 10 from the stub shaft 46, a pipe 48 extends into theshell 10 and-this pipe 48 rests in a notch 62 similar to notch 43, in the upper end of the supporting post 49 (Fig. 7). A latch hook 50 is pivotally mounted, as at 51, on the supnotches 43 when the drum 18 is rotated with the shell, in a mannef now to be described.

The pipe 48 leads into shell 10 and is con-' .nected to suitable supply sources of steam the use of the invention as a washer the valves 52 and 59 will be opened to introduce a cleansing solution at a suitable temperature into shell 10, itbeing understood'that the family wash b hndles are first placedin compartments 25 in drum18, through doors 17 and 26, door 26 being securely closed by suitable latch elements 53. The motor 38 will then be set in operation and the rotation of motor shaft 37 will drive gear 36 thereon, z and motion will be imparted through gear 35, shaft 34, gear 33 and gear 31 to ring gear 30 on shaft 22 and shaft 22 and drum 18 will be rotated, shaft 22 rotating in bearing structures 29. In this manner the cleansing solution in shell 10 will be circulated through the perforations 54 in the wall of drum 18 and through the wash goods in eacheompartment 25 At the end of the washing operation, the water is drained from shell 10' by Way of outlet 55,

. valve 56 and flexible drain conduit 57. In

' case the pipe 48 should break while the shell 10 and drum 18 'areTn horizontal position. the ears'69 on rear wall 12 of shell 10 will engage the lugs or lips 7 0 on posts 47 and 49 (Fig. 5) and from falling.

On the stub shaft 46 (Figs. 1 and 5) 1s a prevent the shell and drum gear 63 which meshes with a worm 64 that is 63 is fixed on stub shaft 46 and shaft 46 is integral with flange 14 of shell 10, shell 10 and drum 18 will be rotated into the vertical position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, shell 10 being then supported on stub shaft 46 and plpe 48 which are disposed in notches,

such as 62, in the upper ends of posts 47 and 49.

On each side of the shell 10 an hydraulic column 72 is arranged and a third and similar column 72 is arranged to the right of shell 10, as seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Communicating with the said three columns is a fluid pressure distributing system 73 in which is a T 74 and connected to T 74 is a fluid pressure feed line 75 controlled by valve 76 (Fig. 3) and a fluid pressure release line 77 is connected to the other side of T 74 and controlled by valve 78.

In each of the columns or cylinders 72 9 is reciprocally mounted for vertical movement on the lower end of a piston rod 80, the fluid pressure distributing line 73 entering the cylinders or columns 72 below piston head 79. as at 81, Fig. 4. In theupper end of each piston rod 80 a substantially conical recess 82 (Fig. 4) is formed and the lower end of each of these recesses opens by a passage 83 to the side of the piston rod or plunger 80. In'each of the recesses 82 is a ball 84 that is mounted on, and connected to in any suitable manner. one end of a flexible cable 85 which extends out of each plunger 80 through passage 83 and the other end of this cable 85 has a ball 86 thereon (Fig. 9), the ball 86 being disposed in a split housing 87. Likewise disposed in each housing 87 is a ball 88. disposed at onev end of a flexible steel cable 89. and the other end of each cable 89 has a ball 90 thereon.

In the case of the cables 85 and 89 associated with the plunger 80 in column 7 2', the

ball 90 at the end of cable 89 is slidably mounted in a groove or channel 91 which extends from the top of flange 14 on end wall 12 of shell 10 to the top of a motor housing 92 (Figs. 1, 4 and 7), the motor housing 92 being connected by a flange 93 and nut bolt structures 94 to the open side of a clutch and brake housing 95, which will be described more fully hereinafter. In the case of the cables 89 and balls 90 associated with the two plungers 80 in the columns 72 disposed at each side of the shell 10, the cables 89 are extended through openings in the ears 69 (Fig. 5) and the balls 90 are disposed exteriorly of these ears 69 so as to prevent retraction of cables 89 therethrough when the shell 10 and drum 18 are lifted vertically into dotted line position of Fig. 1, in a manner now to be described.

After the completion of the washing op eration, and after the shell 10 and drum 18 have been rotated into upright or vertical position by means of handle 68, worm 64 and gear 63 in the manner described, hereinbefore, the valve 76 will be opened to permit (see 72 in Fig. 4) a piston head or plunger portlng post 44, to secure the shell 10 1n the 7 a fluid under pressure to be fed from feed line 75 into the distributing system 73 from which said fluid will enter each of the three columns 72 below the piston heads 79, as at 81, valve 78 being then closed. Pressure thus applied on the bottom of each piston 79 will raise the three plungers 80, this movement of plungers 80 being limited by engagement of each piston 79 with a shoulder 96 (Fig. 4) formed in the inner surface of each column 72. This upward movement of plungers 80 will lift the shell 10 (and drum 18 therein) into dotted line position of Figs. 1 and 2, and thus the shell 10 and drum 18 will be suspended from the plungers 80 on the three pairs of cables 85-89, pipe 48 and stub shaft 41 being lifted out of the notches 62 in supporting posts 45 and 44, respectively. To accommodate pipe 48 to this upward movement a coupling 97 (Fig. 7) is provided in the pipe 48. In this manner the shell 10 and drum 18 will be held suspended on the three flexible members or cables and the drum 18 will then be rotated in a manner to be described presently, within the shell 10, while both shell and drum are thus suspended, so as to carry out the drying operation by means of centrifugal force.

'Within the housing 92 is a suitable motor 98 which includes a shaft 99 on which is mounted one face of a clutch structure generically indicated at 100 (Figs. 4, 5, and 8). This clutch structure 100 includes a disc 101 that is rotatable with shaft 22. Likewise included in the clutch structure 100 is a plate 102 that is rotatable with shaft 99 and pivot ally connected to this plate 102, as at 103 and 104 (Fig. 5) are two clutch shoes 105 and 106. A tongue 107 on shaft 99 is extended into a groove or recess 108 in shaft 22 (Fig. 8) and a thrust bearing 109 is provided in this tongue and groove structure.

When shell 10 and drum 18 are in vertical position. and suspended on the three cables, in the manner hereinbefore described, motor 98 will be set in operation by means of a suitable switch control (not shown) and shaft 99 will rotate therewith, and since plate 102 is fixed to shaft 99 plate 102 will rotate and likewise shoes 105 and 106 which are pivotally connected to plate 102. As the speed of rotation of shaft 99 and plate 102 increases the shoes 105 and 106 will be driven, by centrifugal force. into frictional engagement with the disc 101-and sincedisc 101 is fixed on shaft 22, shaft. 22 will be rotated in bearings 29 and hence drum 18 will rotate, and the water in the clothes in compartments 25 will be driven, by centrifugal force, out through the perforations 54 in drum 18 and into shell 10 from which drainage is efi'ected by way of outlet 54 and drain conduit 57. It will thus be seen that the drum 18 is rotated, during the drying operation, while the shell 10 and drum 18 are suspended from the After the completion of the drying opera- 8 tion, the rotation of drum 18 may be stopped by manipulating hand brake lever 107 which is connected to a suitable brake band 108 that grips the outer surface of disc 101 (Figs.4 and 5). The drum 18 and shell 10 may then be lowered by closing valve 76 and shutting off pressure feed line while opening valve 78 to the pressure release or fluid return line 77 with which a suitable pump may be employed to return the fluid from line 77 to line 75. Ihe weight of the shell 10 and drum 18 and included clothes will then force plungers and pistons 79 downwardly in columns or cylinders 72 and during this operation pipe 48 will be reseated in notch 63 in post 49 while stub shaft 46 will be reseated in the similar notch in post 47. Thereafter, shell 10 and drum 18 may be rotated into horizontal position, for the next Washing operation, by means of handle 68 .worm 64 and gear 63. It will be apparent that when shell 10 and drum 18 are in vertical position and 90 that is disposed in channel 91 will be di posed at the upper end of this channel and be prevented from escaping therefrom by the construction 109 in the upper end of channel 91 (Fig. 4).

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In laundry apparatus, a combination washing machine and centrifugal dryer comprising a shell and a perforated drum rotatable in horizontal position therein in a cleansing solution adapted to be contained in the shell, a structure for detachably supporting the shell and drum in horizontal position, motive power operated means for rotating said drum with the shell during the Washing operation, means for rotating the shell and drum from horizontal into vertical position at the end of the washing operation,'a plurality of flexible members each having one end attached to the shell, and a. plurality of fluid pressure operated vertiends of said flexible members are attached so that the shell and drum may be lifted ofl said first named supporting structure and suspended from said plungers by said flexible members during rotation of the drum within the shell when both are in vertical position and the machine used as a dryer.

2. In laundry apparatus, a combination washing machine and centrifugal dryer comprising a shell and a perforated drum rotatable in horizontal position therein in a cleansing solution adapted to be contained in the shell, a structurefor detachably supporting the shell and drum in horizontal position, motive power operated means for rotating said drum with the shell during the washing operation, means for rotating the shell and drum from horizontal into vertical position at the end of the washing operation, a plurality of flexible members each having one end attached to the shell, a plurality of fluid pressure operated vertically movable plungers to which the other ends of said flexible members are attached so that the shell and drum'may be lifted-off said first named supporting structure and suspended from said plungers by said flexible members during rotation of the drum within the shell when both are in vertical position and the machine used as a dryer, and power driven means for rotating said drum within said shell when both are suspended in vertical position by said flexible members.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a casing and a drumrotatable therein on its horizontal axis, means for moving the casing and the drum to change their axes from horizontal to Vertical, flexible members each having an end portion attached to the casing, fluid pressure operated means having the other ends of the flexible members attached thereto for raising the casing and drum vertically and for supporting the same on their vertical axes, and means for rotating the drum in the casing on its vertical axis.

4; A combination washing and drying machine comprising a shell adapted to contain a cleansing solution and a perforated drum rotatable within said shell, a structure for detachably supporting the shell and drum in a horizontal plane during the washing operation, another structure for supporting the shell and drum in a vertical plane for rotary movement of the drum in the shell during the drying operation, said second named structure including a plurality of upright fluid pressure columns, pistons vertically movable in said columns by fluid pressure, and plungers connected to said pistons, and a flexible member connecting the upper end of each of said plungers with said shell so as to lift the shelland drum ofl the first named structure and suspend them from said plungers by said flexible members during rotation of the drum in the drying operation.

' 5. A combination washing and drying machine comprising a shell adapted to contain a cleansing solution and a perforated drum rotatable within said shell, a structure for detachably supporting the shell and drum in a horizontal plane during the Washing operation, another structure for supporting the shell and drum in a vertical plane for rotary movement of the drum in the shell during the drying operation, said second named structure including a plurality of upright fluid pressure columns, pistons vertically movable in said columns by fluid pressure, plungers connected to said pistons, a flexible member connecting the upper end of each of said plungers with said shell so as to lift the shell and drum off the first named structure and suspend them from said plungers by said flexible members during rotation of the drum in the drying operation, and means for releasing the fluid pressure on the pistons and plungers to reseat the drum on the first named supporting structure after the.

completion of the drying operation.

6. A combination washing and drying machine comprising a shell adapted to contain a cleansing solution and a perforated drum rotatable within said shell, a structurefor detachably supporting the shell and drum'in a horizontal plane during the washing opshell and drum in a vertical plane for rotary movement of the drum in the shell during the drying operation, said second named structure including a plurality of upright fluid pressure columns, pistons vertically movable in said columns by fluid pressure, plungers connected to said pistons, a flexible member connecting the upper end of each of said plungers with said shell so as to lift the shell and drum off the first named structure and suspend them from' said plungers by said flexible members during rotation of the drum in the drying operation, a power driven unit including a shaft extending through the drum for rotating the drum in the shell during the washing operation, another power driven unit for rotating the drum in the shell during the drying operation and means to connect the shaft to the second-named unit when the first-named unit is inactive.

7. A combination washing and drying machine comprising a shell adapted to contain a cleansing solution and a perforated drum rotatable within said shell, a structure for eration, another structure for supporting the detachably supporting the shell and drum in n a horizontal plane during the washing operation, another structure for supporting the movable in said columns by fluid pressure, plungers connected to said pistons a flexible member connecting the upper end of each of said plungers with said shell so as to lift the shell and drum off the first named structure and suspend them from said plungers by said flexible members during rotation of the drum in the drying operation, a power driven unit including a shaft extending through the drum for rotating the drum in the shell during the washing operation, another power driven unit independent of the first named unit for rotating the drum in the shell during the drying operation, and a clutch structure for effecting engagement of said shaft and said second named unit When said first named unit is inactive.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a casing and a drum rotatable therein on its horizontal axis, means for moving the casing and the drum to change their axes from horizontal to vertical, flexible members each having an end portion attached to the casing, means having the other ends of the flexible members attached thereto for raising the casing and drum vertically and for supporting the same on their vertical axes, mechanism for rotating the drum in the casing on its horizontal axis including a shaft and gearing to operate the same, means for rotating the drum in the casing on its vertical axis, and clutch means for operatively connecting the shaft with the last-mentioned means when said mechanism is ineflective.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

NIOOLA STRAMAGLIA. THOMAS SOHILLACI. 

